Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 636,99l.

Patented Nov. l4, I899. W. F. HINES.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed June 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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(Application. flhd Jim. 29, 1898.)

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Patented M. M, I899;

No. 636,99I.

r. HINES. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application flled June 29, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HlNES, HOF-GNADENHUTTEN, OHIO.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,991, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed June 29, 1898.

T0 at whmn/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. HINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gnadenhutten, in the county of Tuscarawas and.

State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulAcetyleneGas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating acetylene gas; and one of the objects of the invention is toprovide means for cooling and condensing the gas at a period subsequent to its delivery from the generator to the storage-bell of the gasometer and prior to its exit from the gasometer to the service system of piping and also to prevent drippage of the water of condensation from the gas back to the carbid in the generator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generator in which a relatively large quantity of carbid may be stored in isolated vessels or compartments which are brought successively into service to expose a small cartridge of the carbid to the action of the water,thus effecting economy in the consumption of the carbid and insuring prolonged service of theapparatus without requiring daily recharge of the generator with fresh carbid.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification; and in,

which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through an apparatus for generating acetylene gas constructed in accordance with my' Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of;

invention.

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation through the condenser. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the trap-chamber and its connections. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the trip-controlled water-inlet valve by which water in regulated limited volumes is supplied at suitable intervals to the cartridges of carbid contained within the generator. Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective of Serial No. 684,745. (No model.)

the revoluble carrier employed in the construction of the generator shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the door-clamps. Fig. Sis a cross-sectional view through a part of the gasometer-tank and one of the doors thereof to open into the generator-chamber. Fig. 9 is a plan View of a modified construction of the generator, and

tinguishing the elements of the gasometer one from the other I have indicated the tank thereof by the numeral 1 and the verticallymovable bell by the numeral 2. The gasometer-tank is divided into compartments by transverse partitions or diaphragms 3 3 which form the bottom of the water-chamber in the gasometer-tank andthe top of the generator-chamber, respectively.

Within the tank is secured a containing shell or cylinder which affords a housing for all the operative elements of the apparatus,

and this cylinder or shell is of less diameter than the bell 2, and it is secured in a suitable way on the partition or diaphragm 3, so as to lie Within the plane of the bell and permit free vertical movement of the latter. The inner fixed cylinder or shell 4 reduces the waterchamber of the gasometer, and it is designed to contain the operating elements-except the generator, so that access cannot be obtained to the working parts of the apparatus by children or evil-disposed persons; but the generator is housed within the chamber below tween the closed head of the cylinder 4 and 2 eeaeei the head of the gas-bell 2. In the annular chamber 5 is placed a liquid, usually water, as indicated at 7, and this liquid is exposed throughout a small portion of its area to the pressure of gas stored within the gas-chamber 6 between the cylinder 4 and gas-bell 2, so that when the apparatus is in service the water inside of the bell is on alower level, as at S, than the water-level 9 between the tank 1 and gas-bell 2. It will be understood that the gas-bell is free to play in the seal 7 and that it rises and falls automatically as the quantity of gas varies within the gasometer. Between the partition 3 and the lower part of the tank 1 is provided a chamber 10, adapted to contain the generator, the construction and operation of which will be hereinafter described.

11 designates a water-tube which is fixed centrally within the shell or cylinder 4, the lower end of said tube 11 being closed by the bottom of the cylinder or the partition 3; but the upper end of this tube opens through the closed upper head of the cylinder 4.

To the center of the bell 2 is rigidly secured a vertical guide-tube 12, which is telescopically fitted within the tube 11, so as to play freely therein and in the water contained in said tube 11, and this guide-tube 12 is rigidly secured to the bell to move vertically therewith. The guide-tube fits within the watertube to direct the bell in its vertical movements and prevent the latter from tilting or canting sidewise, so as to insure unobstructed play or movement to the bell in its vertical travel, and in the lower part of this guidetube is provided a transverse opening 13, said opening beingat a suitable distance above'the lower open end of the tube 12.

Extending vertically through the watertube 11 and into the slidable guide-tube 12 is the vertical vent-pipe 14, the lower end of which passes through the partition or bottom 3 and is formed or provided with a horizontal branch 15, extended through the gasometer-tank for the purpose of communicating with a vent-pipe which is led or conducted outside of the building or structure in which the apparatus is located. Over the vertical length of this vent-tube is arranged telescopically a valve-tube 16, the upper end of which is closed, while its lower end is open. This valve-tube is rigidly secured within the vertical guide-tube 12, so as to travel with the tube 12 and the hell 2. This valve-tube 16 is open at its lower end, and it is secured to the guide-tube 12 in such a manner that the ventopening 13 in the valve-tube opens into the space of the valve-tube 16. The tubes 12 and 16 are normally immersed in the water column contained within the tube 11, and thus the escape of gas from the chamber 6 through the vent-pipe is cut off. Accumulation of gas beyond the capacity of the gasometer causes the bell to travel upward a sufficient distance to elevate the guide and valve tubes to positions where the vent-port therein is exposed above the level of the water contained in the tube 11, and thus the gas from the chamber 6 of the gasometer is admitted to the valve-tube 16, through which the gas passes through the open upper end of the vent-pipe 14, from whence the gas flows through the pipe into the branch 15, and thence to the outside of the building, whereby the quantity and pressure of the gas is automatically reduced in the gasometer.

The fixed cylinder or shell4contains with in itself the water-tank 17, which supplies the water to the carbid in the generator. This water-tank is sustained in an elevated position within the chamber of the cylinder 4 by suitable devices, and at its upper end said tank is provided with a nipple 18, which passes through the head of the cylinder 4 and into the chamber 6, the upper extremity of the nipple being open for the ingress of gas, which exerts its pressure upon the water contained within the tank. From the bottom of the tank 17 is extended a water-pipe 19, which is coupled at its lower extremity to a horizontal feed-pipe 20. The end of this horizontal pipe near the center of the cylinder is bent to form a depending branch 21, which is carried through the partition or bottom 3, so as to discharge the water to the generator-chamber 10, and in the horizontal water-pipe 20 is provided a man ually-operative co ntrolling-valve 22, the stem or spindle of which is readily accessible through one of the door-openings for closing the valve to cut off the passage of water from the elevator-tank to the generator.

Water may be conveniently supplied to the tank 17 through an inlet-pipe 23, which is arranged outside of the gasometer, and at its upper end this inlet-pipe 23 is equipped with an indicating-gage 23 and with a funnel 24. The inlet-pipe 23 to the water-tank is carried below the horizontal plane of the feed-pipe 20, and said pipe 23 is bent or carried in an upward direction, as shown by Fig. 1, in order to form a trap at the lower part of said inlet-pipe 23. At its lowest point the trap of the pipe 23 has a drain-cock 25, and the rising member of the trap-formed lower end of said pipe 23 terminates in ahorizon tal branch 27, which passes through the intermediate chamber of the gasometer, said horizontal branch pipe 27 being attached to the pipe 20 at the point where the vertical pipe 1%) joins with said pipe 20. \Vater may be poured into the tunnel of the pipe 23 and rise in the trap thereof to flow into the pipe 19, so as to renew the supply of water in Ihetank 17, and as the trap between the tank and the inletpipe extends below the horizontal feed-pipe 20 to the generator the water in the pipe 23 will form a seal against the escape of gas when the water becomes exhausted from the tank 17 and the pipe 19, thus arresting the escape of gas through the inlet-pipe 23.

The gas produced in the generator is led therefrom by a gas-pipe 28, which passes through the partition or bottom 3 and extends into the chamber of the cylinder 4, and the gas conveyed by this pipe 28 is discharged into a trap-chamber 29, supported by suitable brackets 31 on the fixed water-tube 11 within the cylinder. The gas-pipe 28 discharges into the trap-chamber above the level of a water seal contained therein, and from said trapchamber 29 leads a gas-pipe 30, which extends through the cylinder 4 and the closed head thereof to discharge the gas into the chamber 6 within the bell. The lower end of the gaspipe 30 terminates within the trap-chamber 29, above the level of the liquid therein, and the pipes 28 and 30 are in different vertical planes to cause the gas to circulate through the chamber 29 as it escapes from the pipe 28. As the gas flows from the generator to j the pipe 28 and into the trap-chamber 29 the moisture of condensation contained in the chamber is precipitated into the liquid contained in said chamber and is prevented from dripping back through the pipe 28 into the carbid-chamber and upon the carbid therein, thus overcoming one of the objections encountered in structures of this character in which the water of condensation from the gas as it passes from the generator is liable to become precipitated back into the generator through the gas-gipe.

The water in the trap-chamber29 is supplied thereto from a trap-pipe 32, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the shell form ing the chamber 29, and the other end of this trap-pipe is connected with a stand-pipe associated with the condenser, which I will now proceed to describe.

The condenser employs a vertical cylinder 34, which is arranged for the major portion of its length within the fixed cylinder4; but the upper end of this condensing-cylinder is extended through the head of the cylinder 4, so as to terminate in the gas-chamber 6. This condensing-cylinder is suitably secured to the fixed cylinder 4-as, for example,by the bolts 35. A condensing-chamber '36 is arranged or provided within the condensingcylinder at apoint about midway of its height, and the interior of this condensing-chamber is provided with a series of parallel condensing-plates 37, which divide the chamber into a plurality of narrow compartments 38. The condensing-plates 37 isolate the compartments one from the other, and with these compartments of said chamber 36 are combined the circulating-pipes,which are arranged to cause the gas to circulate through the chambers and pipes successively, and thus bring the gas into intimate contact with a large area of cool metallic surface, by which the watery vapors contained within the gas arethoroughly condensed, and the gas is cooled in its passage from the chamber 6 to the outlet-pipe. The gas from the chamber 6 is admitted to the first compartment of the condensing-chamber by an inlet-pipe 39, the lower end of which is attached to the top of the condensing-chamber, while its upper end extends through the head of the condensing-chamber 34 to open into the chamber 6. A series of doubled or return circulating-pipes 40 are combined with the divided condensing-chamber, and each of these pipes is closed at its upper end by an elbow against communication with the condensing-cylinder, while the lower end of each return-pipe is connected with the adjacent compartment of the condensing-chamberthat is to say, the right-hand end of each pipe 40 communicates with one compartment, while its left-hand end is in communication with an adjacent compartment. This arrangement of the circulating-pipes permits the gas to pass from the first compartment of the chamber through the first return-pipe and be discharged into the second compartment of the chamber, from whence it passes through the second return-pipe to the third compartment of the condensing-chamber, and so on throughout the series of pipes and compartments until the final compartment of the chamber is reached. From this final chamber leads a gas-outlet pipe 41,which is connected with a stan d-pipe 48. The moisture and water of condensation from the gas as it passes through and in contact with the condensing-plates and the metallic circulating-pipes lodges upon the plates and pipes and trickles into the lower part of the series of isolated compartments within the condensing-chamber, and these compartments of said chamber are operatively connected together, so as to insure the water in all of the compartments remaining at substantially the same level. This is attained by the employment of the doubled or return water-pipes 42, arranged on the lower side of the condenserchamber and communicating with the several compartments thereof in a manner similar to the gas-circulating pipes 40, and by means of these water-pipes an excessive accumulation of water in one chamber permits the water to flow into an adjacent chamber. These waterpipes 42 also serve as traps to prevent the escape of gas from the condenser. The standpipe 48 is doubled or looped to provide two branches 44 and 45 and one branch 44 has its lower end connected to the lower part of the final water-pipe 42 of the condensing-chamber, while the other branch 45 of the standpipe is provided at its lower end with a horizontal length 45, which opens through the tank 1 at a point below the partition or botabove the bottom or partition 3, so as to communicate with the chamber 5, containing the water seal. The upper end of this feed-pipe 46 discharges into the chamber of the coudensing-shell at a point above the condensing-chamber 36, and this pipe is adapted to convey the water from the lower part of the tank 1 to the condensing-cylinder, so that the pipes 40 within said cylinder and above the chamber 36 are immersed in cool water,which keeps the pipes 40 in the necessary cool condition for the condensation of the watery vapors contained in the gas as the latter circulates through the pipes 40. As the level of the water in the gasometer fluctuates under varying pressures of the gas, the water contained in-the upper compartment of the condensing-cylinder above the condensing chamher is also subject to fluctuation, and to per mit of the change in the Water-level in the cylinder 34 I provide an air-vent pipe 47, which is arranged between the condensingcylinder and the guide devices for the gasbell. The upper end of this air-vent pipe 47 communicates with the head of the condensing-cylinder, while the lower end of said pipe 47 is extended through the tank 1 below the gas bell for communication with the surrounding atmosphere.

The gas is conveyed from the condenser through an outlet-pipe 48, the upper end of which communicates with the final compartment of the condensing-chamber at a point above the level of the water in said compartments of the condensing-chamber; but the lower end of this pipe 48 is carried horizontally beneath the condenser and extended through the tank 1, whereby the extremity of said pipe 48 may be connected in a suitable way with a service-pipe of a building or structure.

The chamber of the cylinder or shell at is ventilated by a pipe 49, which extends from the upper part of the shell or cylinder 4 through the bottom or partition 3, thence through the tank 4 and vertically alongside of the gasometer.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of the preferred form of the generator, which is illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. The generator is housed or contained in the chamber 10 below the partition 3 of the tank,

and within this chamber is arranged a revoluble carrier 51, which contains the series of isolated carbid vessels which are designed to be presented successively to the vertical branch 21 of the water-feed pipe 20. This revoluble carrier consists of a disk 52, a central tube 53, and a series of radial partitions 54:. The central tube and the radial partitions are secured rigidly to the disk, and said tube 52 is fitted to rotate freely on a central post or spindle 55, erected in a fixed position centrally within the chamber 10. To the upper end or lower end of the central tube of the carrier is rigidly secured a miter or bevel gear 56, with which meshes a bevel-pinion 58 on a horizontal shaft 57, which is journaled in suitable bearings 60, one end of the shaft being provided with a hand-wheel 59, by which the shaft may be conveniently rotated for the purpose of turning the revoluble carrier to move one carbid vessel from position beneath the water-inlet branch 21 and present another carbid vessel with a fresh charge or cartridge in position beneath said waterpipe 21 for the water admitted thereby to drop or fall upon the carbid, and thus effect renewalin the generation of the gas. The carbid vessels 61 are shaped to fit snugly between the radial partitions 54 of the revoluble carrier, and each vessel rests upon the carrierdisk, so as to be removable readily when it is desired to renew the charge therein. Each carbid vessel is preferably in the form of a ta= pered or wedgeshaped box, open at its up per side to expose the carbid therein to the action of the water. Access may be readily obtained to the interior of the generator by means of one or more door-openings 62, which are provided in the tank 1 below the partition 3 thereof, and when the door is opened the operator may readily manipulate the hand-wheel of the shaft 59 to adjust the carbid-carrier, and either or all of the vessels 61 may be removed from the carrier for emptying the spent charges or cartridges and replacing the same with fresh carbid. Around each door-opening is arranged a frame 63, preferably of cast metal, and bolted, as at 64, rigidly to the tank, and this frame is provided with a pair of lugs 65 on one side, and on its opposite side it has a locking-lug 66, in which is formed a female threaded socket 67, that receives the fastening-bolt by which the locking-bar is held in place to force the door 68 closely against the frame 63. The door 68 is hinged at one edge, as at 69, to the frame, and said door is spanned by a locking-bar 70, one end of which is fitted between a pair of lugs 65 to receive a hinged bolt 71. The free end of the bar 70 has a transverse opening adapted to coincide with a socket 67 when the door is closed, and the bar '70 is swung across said door, and a bolt 72 is passed through an opening in the bar 70 and screwed into the socket of the lug 66. The outer end of this bolt is formed with a polygonal end 73 to receive a detachable handwheel 74, or in lieu of this hand-wheel a wrench or other implement may be applied to the angular end of the bolt for the purpose of adjusting the same. The joint between the frame and the door is tightly sealed against the leakage of gas from the generator by a compressible packing or gasket, and as the generatoris heated more or less by the action of the gas I construct the gasket partly of asbestos or its equivalent and partly of rubber. The composite gasket consists of a layer of rubber bound or reinforced by layers of asbestos, which inclose the rubber and protect IIO the same from the deteriorating influence of the heat thereon.

In the modified form of the generator as represented by Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings I omit the revoluble carrier and its actuating mechanism; but the divided generator, with a series of separate compartments adapted to contain the independent charges of carbid, is retained. In this form of the generator the chamber 10 thereof is divided diametrically by a transverse plate 76, and to each compartment is provided a door 77 to permit access to be obtained to either of the compartments. The divided compartments of the chamber 10 contain a series of independentlyremovable carbid Vessels 80. Above the generator-chamber is arranged the horizontal water-i nlet pipe which communicates with the depending branch 21 of the water-feed pipe 20, or this pipe 81 may itself be formed by the pipe 20. From said water-feed pipe extends a series of branches 82, which correspond in number to the compartments, and

. each branch is arranged to communicate with one of the compartments, whereby the compartments are individually supplied with water from a common feed-pipe. The flow of water through the branches of the water-pipe is controlled by the valves 83, which are provided in the branches 82, and when the carbid in one vessel becomes exhausted the valve in the pipe which supplies the exhausted vessel is closed and the valve in the'next pipe in the adjacent compartment and vessel is opened, thus admitting water successively to the series of vessels. In this embodiment of the generator the gas contained therein may escape through vent-pipes 84, which communicate with the divided chamber, and in these vent-pipes are fitted the controlling-valves 85, either of which may be opened to permit the gas to pass from the chamber when the latter is to be opened for renewing the carbid in the vessels therein.

The water necessary to attain the generation of gas is admitted automatically to the generator on the descent of the bell under diminution of the gas-pressure in the gasometer; and to this end I provide a trip-controlled water-valve 86, which is placed in the water-pipe 20 at a point between the branch 21 thereof and the hand-valve 22. This automatic water-valve 86 is provided with a lever-arm 87, which at its free end carries a weight 88, that serves to normally hold the Valve in its closed position, and on this "alvelever is a horizontal arm 89, which is held by the weighted lever normally in the path of the Vertically-disposed trip-rod 90, the lower end of which is provided with a trip 91, that is adapted to impinge against the arm 89 and move the lever 87 to open the valve 86, whereby water may pass through the pipe 20 to the generator. The trip-rod 90 is arranged at a suitable point Within the apparatus; but I prefer to extend this trip-rod through the water-tube 11 of the fixed shell or cylinder 4. This trip-rod is adapted to play freely through a fixed guide-tube 92, which is erected within the water-tube 11 at a point at one side of the valve-tube 16, and the upper end of this triprod is secured to a cross-head 93, attached to the guide-tube 12, whereby the trip-rod is movable with the gas-bell in its rising and falling motion. A stop 94 is fixed in the path of the valve-lever 87 to limit the swinging movement thereof in one direction.

Ihave also provided an air-forcing mechanism by which the gas contained in the generator may be expelled previous to recharging the carbid vessels within said generator. This air-forcing mechanism is shown in the drawings as consisting of a bellows, pump, or blower 95, having a discharge-pipe 96, ter1ni nating in the branches 97, that open into the generator-ch amber, and in this pipe 96 is provided a check-valve 98, which prevents the back pressure of gas into the ai r-forcin g mechanism. The air pumped by the bellows into the generator-chamber displaces the gas which weighted valve-lever, thus closing the pipe 20 against the passage of water from the tank 17 to the generator. A reduction of the gas Volume and pressure Within the gasometer allows the bell to descend and the trip-rod travels with it, thus bringing the trip on the rod in engagement with the valve-lever. The pressure of the trip against the lever overcomes the inertia of the weight thereon and opens the valve 86 for water to pass from the tank 17 through the pipe 20 and into the generator, thus renewing the generation of gas automatically. The accumulation of gas raises the bell and withdraws the trip-rod from the lever, thus permitting the weighted lever to close the valve against the further passage of water to the generator.

The water in the vertical tube 11 0f the fixed cylinder or shell 4 is supplied from the lowerpart of the chamber 5 by a horizontal pipe 99, which opens atone end in the chamber 5 and at its other end in the lower part of the tube 11, thus maintaining in the tube 11 a column of water which is equal in height to the water between the gas-bell and the cylinder 4.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, and I IIO therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as clearly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination with a gasometer and a generator below the chamber therein, of a stationary interior closed shell or cylinder within said gasometer-tank, a water-tank within the stationary cylinder and operatively connected with the generator, and a water-inlet pipe having a trap connection with the water-tan k, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylenegas apparatus, the combination with a gasometer and a generator, of a water-tank situated within said gasometer and communicating with the gas-chamber of the gasometer-bell to be subjected to the pressure of gas therein, a water-pipe leading from said tank to the generator, and a waterinlet pipe connected to the water-supply tank, said pipe forming a trap which lies below the level of the water-pipe to the generator and is connected operatively with said water-supply tank, whereby the trap prevents escape of gas from the apparatus in the event of exhaustion of the water-supply in said tank, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer provided with transverse partitions forming a generator-chamher and an intermediate chamber, a carbidcontainerin said generator-chamber, a waterpipe extending through the intermediate chamber and discharging into the generatorchamber, a trip-valve on said water-pipe and disposed in the intermediate chamber, and a bell-actuated trip-rod arranged to ride against said trip-valve, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer provided with transverse partitions forming a generator-chamber and an intermediate chamber, a carbidcontainer in said generator-chamber, a waterpipe extending through the intermediate chamber, a cut-off valve attached to said waterpipe and having an angular weighted trip-rod, a vertical guide-tube fixed in the gasometer, and a trip-rod attached to the gasometer-bell and extended through the guidetube to act on said trip-arm, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer provided with transverse partitions forming a generator-chamber and an intermediate chamber, a central seal-tube fixed within the gasometer above the intermediate chamber thereof, a venttube connected to the gasometer-bell and fitted slidably in the seal-tube, a vent-pipe extending through the seal-tube, a guide-tube also extending through the seal tube and fixed to one partition of the gasometer to open into the intermediate chamber thereof, a water-pipe in said intermediate chamber, a trip-Valve on said water-pipe, and a bellactuated trip-rod extended through the guidetube to act on the trip valve, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination with a gasometer, and a generator situated below the same, ofast-ationary closed shell fixed within the gasometer-tank, a trapchamber housed within the shell, a gas-pipe connecting the trap-chamber with the generator, a similar piperconnecting said trapchamber with the chamber of the gasometerbell, a condenser supported by and arranged within said closed shell, and a water-supply pipe having separate connections respectively with the trap-chamber and condenser, substantially as set forth.

7. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator provided with a water-inlet device, a revoluble carrier within said chamber, and a series of separate carbid vessels mounted on said carrier and removable individually therefrom, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a water-inlet device, a horizontallyrevoluble carrier within said chamber, a series of separate carbid vessels fitted to the carrier to be presented successively thereby to the water-inlet device and said vessels removable individually from said carrier, and operating devices accessible externally to the generator and connected to said carrier to actuate the latter, substantially as described.

9. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a water-inlet device, a revoluble carrier having its disk provided with a tubular shaft and with a series of radial partitions, a horizontal shaft geared to the carrier-shaft, and a series of separate carbid vessels fitted to said carrier-disk between the partitions thereof, substantially as described.

10. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator-chamber provided with a vertical spindle, a revoluble carrier having a tubular shaft fitted to said spindle to rotate freely thereon, an operating-shaft geared to the tubular shaft, and separate carbid vessels fitted to said carrier and removable individually therefrom, substantially as described.

11. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer divided by transverse partitions to form the lower generator-chamber and an intermediate chamber, a carbidcontainer within said generator chamber, means situated within the intermediate cham her to admit water in regulated volumes to the generator-chamber, and bell-controlled trip devices in operative relation to the waterinlet devices, substantially as described.

12. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer provided with trans verse partitions arranged to form the inde* pendent generator and intermediate chain bers, a carbid-container situated within the lower generator-chamber, trip-controlled water-inlet devices situated within the intermediate chamber, a valved gas-inlet pipe leading from the lower generator chamber, a

valved vent-pipe extending through the intermediate chamber and communicating with the generator-chamber, and an air-forcing mechanism connected with the lower generator-chamber and adapted to expel gas therefrom through the Vent-pipes when the valved gas-pipe is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. HINES.

Witnesses:

WM. B. CHASE, FINLEY JOHNSTON. 

